Throne of Thorns

Remonstrations

A gentle cough draws Rabiyah’s attention away from the pile of paperwork on her desk. The black-clad assassin stands before the senior priestess and bows.

“You again have need of our services, Dawnsister?”

Rabiyah stands and leans forward on her desk, fists clenched. “No, isha-ghazi, I have issues with your services.”

The smaller woman raises an eyebrow, but otherwise makes no response.

“I have several reports”, Rabiyah gestures at the papers on her desk, “confirming that feda-ghazi Faisal still lives and continues to desecrate The Sarenrae with his corrupted ways. Not only does he still breathe, something you assured me could not occur, but he now dares style himself High Priest of the barbarians, an honour that is forbidden to one of his Order!”

Mehnaz tilts her head slightly to one side, considering the information. “It would seem that you have underestimated the apostate and his false priestess.”

“I UNDERESTIMATED?”, roars the Dawnsister. “It was YOU who assured me that nothing short of divine intervention could bring him back! YOU who provided the information on which our assumptions were based! I should have YOU stripped of your position and sold to the slave markets!”

The assassin continues to stand passively before the cluttered desk, but her voice drops in warning. “I suggest taking more care with your words, Dawnsister. You and your brethren may command the services of the Isha-Ghazi, but you do not control our Order. Forget that, and you may learn more about our services than you wish.”

Rabiyah glares at the dark-clad young woman, but does not speak.

“Nevertheless”, Mehnaz continues, “I accept your remonstration for the heathen’s survival. It seems that the false Priestess is more powerful than I had believed. It will be necessary to deal with her first, before the apostate can be properly removed.”

“In that, I concur”, agrees Rabiyah as she sits down again. “I pray that you are more successful than in your last endeavour, isha-ghazi.”

The assassin bows again. “May the Holy Wrath of the Eternal Light guide my blade. The false Dawnsister and the heathen warrior will be exterminated by the Solstice Triumphant.”